Paper feeding parameter management system

ABSTRACT

A paper feeding parameter management system includes air paper feeding devices and a management device. The air paper feeding device includes an air paper feeder that feeds a paper sheet by sending air to and attracting the paper sheet, and switches paper feeding parameters in the air paper feeder. The management device (i) causes a memory to hold an adjustment result in which paper type information, the paper feeding parameter, and conveyance result transmitted from each of the air paper feeding devices are associated, and (ii) refers to the adjustment result to set, for an air paper feeding device targeted for processing, a paper feeding parameter corresponding to the paper type information obtained by the air paper feeding device targeted for processing on a basis of the conveyance result corresponding to the paper feeding parameter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to JapanesePatent Application No. 2018-206215, filed on Nov. 1, 2018, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technological Field

The present invention relates to a paper feeding parameter managementsystem.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a paper feeding device of an air suction system(hereinafter referred to as an air paper feeding device) is known as apaper feeding device that feeds paper sheets to an image formingapparatus. In the air paper feeding device, air is blown to the sidesurface of a stacked paper sheet bundle to float and separate papersheets, and the uppermost paper sheet is attracted and conveyed, so thatthe paper sheets are delivered one by one. In the air paper feedingdevice, optimum paper feeding conditions (paper feeding parameters) areset depending on the payer type, environment, and the like.

In addition, a system in which, in a data collection and distributionapparatus that collects adjustment values of an image forming conditionand a conveyance condition from a plurality of image forming apparatusesinstalled in the market in association with the type of recording paper,the most common adjustment value among adjustment values concerningrespective sheets of recording paper is proposed as a recommended valueis utilized (JP2008-241881A). That is, this system provides anadjustment value most frequently used by users and service persons whenfeeding back an adjustment value to each machine in the market.

However, it is not clear in the system described in JP2008-241881Awhether the result of conveying a paper sheet using an adjustment valueadjusted in each machine in the market is favorable. Thus, even if theadjustment value provided for each machine is a mode value, it is notnecessarily an optimum value.

In particular, in an air paper feeding device, a defect duringconveyance, such as a jam, is likely to be caused by adjusting paperfeeding parameters.

SUMMARY

The present invention was made in view of the problems in theabove-described related art, and has an object to reduce defects inpaper sheet conveyance in an air paper feeding device.

To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to anaspect of the present invention, a paper feeding parameter managementsystem includes:

air paper feeding devices each of which includes an air paper feederthat feeds a paper sheet by sending air to and attracting the papersheet, and switches paper feeding parameters in the air paper feeder;and

a management device connected to the air paper feeding devices via acommunication network,

wherein

each of the air paper feeding devices includes:

-   -   a paper type information obtainer that obtains paper type        information on paper sheets targeted for feeding, and    -   a first hardware processor that adjusts a paper feeding        parameter in the air paper feeder, and transmits the paper type        information obtained by the paper type information obtainer, the        adjusted paper feeding parameter, and a conveyance result of        feeding the paper sheets targeted for feeding using the adjusted        paper feeding parameter to the management device, and

the management device includes a second hardware processor that (i)causes a memory to hold an adjustment result in which the paper typeinformation, the paper feeding parameter, and the conveyance resulttransmitted from each of the air paper feeding devices are associated,and (ii) refers to the adjustment result held in the memory to set, foran air paper feeding device targeted for processing among the air paperfeeding devices, a paper feeding parameter corresponding to the papertype information obtained by the paper type information obtainer of theair paper feeding device targeted for processing on a basis of theconveyance result corresponding to the paper feeding parameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of theinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are givenby way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a paper feeding parametermanagement system in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an imageforming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a sectional configuration of a paperfeeder along a paper feeding direction.

FIG. 4 shows a data configuration example of a paper feeding parametertable held in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a paper sheet distance between theuppermost paper sheet and a subsequent paper sheet.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relation of the paper sheet distance to airvolume.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of amanagement device.

FIG. 8 shows a data configuration example of an adjustment resultmanagement table held in the management device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing executed in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing paper feeding parameter managementprocessing executed in the management device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state when a paper feeding operation in acase where there is no accompanied feeding is started in a secondembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state when the paper feeding operation ina case where accompanied feeding has occurred is started.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relation of the accompanied feeding extentto air volume.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a relation between the paper sheet distanceand accompanied feeding extent in a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing a relation between the paper sheet distanceand air volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of a paper feeding parameter management systemaccording to the present invention will be described first. Note thatthe present invention is not limited to illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a paper feeding parametermanagement system 100 in the first embodiment. In the paper feedingparameter management system 100, a plurality of image formingapparatuses 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, . . . and a management device 50 areconnected via a communication network N such as the Internet or a localarea network (LAN) so as to enable data communications. The imageforming apparatuses 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, . . . include paper feedingdevices 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, . . . as air paper feeding devices,respectively. Hereinafter, in a case of not distinguishing between theimage forming apparatuses 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, . . . , and the paperfeeding devices 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, . . . , they will be described as animage forming apparatus 10 and a paper feeding device 20.

FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus10. The image forming apparatus 10 is configured to include a controller11, an image forming unit 12, the paper feeding device 20, an operationinterface 13, a display 14, a memory 15, a communicator 16, an imagereader 17, a timer 18, and the like, and the respective components areconnected with buses.

The controller 11 is composed of a central processing unit (CPU), a readonly memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like, andexerts centralized control over processing operations of the respectivecomponents of the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU reads out variousprocessing programs held in the ROM for expansion to the RAM, andexecutes various types of processing in accordance with the expandedprograms.

The image forming unit 12 forms an image on a paper sheet fed from thepaper feeding device 20 on the basis of image data read by the imagereader 17 or image data received from an external device by thecommunicator 16. For example, the image forming unit 12 forms an imageby an electrophotographic system with toner of respective colors ofyellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

The paper feeding device 20 includes one or more paper feeders 30.

Each of the paper feeders 30 is an air paper feeder that feeds a papersheet by sending air to and attracting the paper sheet. The paper feeder30 includes a leading end fan 31, a side fan 32, an attracting fan 33, atray lifting motor 34, a paper type information sensing sensor 35, apaper sheet sensing sensor 36, a camera 37, a side guide positionsensing sensor 38, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a sectional configuration of thepaper feeder 30 along a paper feeding direction. The paper feeder 30includes a paper feed tray 40, a lifter 41, a conveyor belt 42, a papersheet attractor 43, the leading end fan 31, the side fan 32, theattracting fan 33, paper sheet sensing sensors 36A, 36B, and 36C, andthe like. Paper sheets stacked on the paper feed tray 40 are attractedand conveyed by the conveyor belt 42, and are fed one by one to the leftin the X direction shown in FIG. 3.

Note that the lengths in the X direction of the paper feed tray 40 andpaper sheets are actually sufficiently longer than that of the conveyorbelt 42. The same applies to the following drawings.

The leading end fan 31 blows air (separating air) to paper sheets fromthe leading end side in the direction of feeding a paper sheet bundlestacked on the paper feed tray 40 to separate the uppermost paper sheet.

The side fan 32 blows air (side air) to paper sheets from both end sidesof the paper sheets in a direction (paper sheet width direction)orthogonal to the direction of feeding the paper sheet bundle stacked onthe paper feed tray 40 to float upper paper sheets. That is, the sidefan 32 sends air from both sides of the paper sheet bundle in the papersheet width direction bidirectionally (from this side to the fartherside and from the farther side to this side with respect to the sheet ofdrawing of FIG. 3) in the Y direction shown in FIG. 3.

The conveyor belt 42 is a conveyor that conveys a paper sheet floated byair sent from the leading end fan 31 and the side fan 32 whileattracting the paper sheet. The conveyor belt 42 is looped around aplurality of rollers, and rotates with the rotational driving of atleast one roller of the plurality of rollers. The conveyor belt 42 has aplurality of air holes formed to extend through from the front to rearin its entire surface, and is capable of attracting a paper sheet to thelower part of the conveyor belt 42 through each of the air holes bysuction of the paper sheet attractor 43.

The paper sheet attractor 43 includes the attracting fan 33, andattracts the uppermost paper sheet floated by air sent to the papersheets stacked on the paper feed tray 40.

The attracting fan 33 sucks in air through the air holes formed in theconveyor belt 42 to attract a paper sheet to the conveyor belt 42. Thatis, the attracting fan 33 attracts a paper sheet upward in the Zdirection shown in FIG. 3.

The tray lifting motor 34 moves the lifter 41 provided on the bottomsurface of the paper feed tray 40 in the Z direction (verticaldirection, paper sheet stacked direction) shown in FIG. 3 to adjust theposition of the paper sheets stacked in the tray.

The paper type information sensing sensor 35 is a device that sensespaper type information from paper sheets targeted for feeding in thepaper feeder 30, and outputs the sensed paper type information to thecontroller 11. That is, the paper type information sensing sensor 35 isa paper type information obtainer that obtains the paper typeinformation on paper sheets targeted for feeding. The paper typeinformation sensing sensor 35 is composed of a reflection typephotoelectric sensor, a thickness sensing sensor, and the like. Thepaper type information sensing sensor 35 may be provided within thepaper feed tray 40, or may be provided on a paper sheet conveyance path.Surface properties, grammage, stiffness, a size, and the like of papersheets are included in the paper type information.

The paper sheet sensing sensor 36 is a sensor that senses paper sheetsin the paper feeder 30, and outputs a sensing result to the controller11. Information about an occurrence of a jam, multiple feeding, and thelike can be obtained from the sensing result from the paper sheetsensing sensor 36. For example, it is determined that a jam has occurredin a case where, after a paper sheet is sensed by a certain paper sheetsensing sensor 36, the paper sheet is not sensed by a paper sheetsensing sensor 36 provided downstream in a paper sheet conveyingdirection, or in a case where sensing of the paper sheet is continued ina certain paper sheet sensing sensor 36 (i.e. a case where the papersheet does not move).

The paper sheet sensing sensor 36 includes the paper sheet sensingsensors 36A, 36B, and 36C shown in FIG. 3.

The paper sheet sensing sensor 36A senses that a paper sheet floated byair sent from the leading end fan 31 and the side fan 32 has beenattracted to the lower part of the conveyor belt 42.

The paper sheet sensing sensors 36B, 36C sense whether there is a papersheet at their installed positions.

At the time of paper feeding, a paper sheet is brought into a waitingstate at a place sensed by the paper sheet sensing sensor 36A, and in acase where it is confirmed by the paper sheet sensing sensors 36B, 36Cthat there is no paper sheet, that is, in a case where a preceding papersheet has been conveyed downstream of the paper sheet sensing sensor36C, paper feeding is permitted.

The camera 37 is provided at a position where the uppermost paper sheetfloated by air sent to paper sheets stacked on the paper feed tray 40and a subsequent paper sheet (an underlying paper sheet) can be imaged,and generates image data.

The side guide position sensing sensor 38 is a sensor that senses theposition of a side guide that adjusts the length of the paper feed tray40 in the paper sheet width direction, and outputs a sensing result tothe controller 11. The side guide is a partition plate provided to beslidable in the paper sheet width direction, and is changed in positionmanually or automatically.

The operation interface 13 includes a touch panel formed to cover adisplay screen of the display 14 and various operation buttons such asnumber buttons and a start button, and outputs an operation signal basedon a user's operation to the controller 11.

The display 14 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), anddisplays various screens in accordance with an instruction of a displaysignal input from the controller 11.

The memory 15 is implemented by a memory device such as a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory or a hard disk, and holds data concerning varioustypes of processing, and the like. The memory 15 includes a fed papersheet number counter for each of the paper feeders 30 of the paperfeeding device 20. In addition, paper sheet setting information in whichthe paper feed tray 40 of each of the paper feeders 30 and paper typeinformation on paper sheets placed in the paper feed tray 40 areassociated is held in the memory 15.

FIG. 4 shows a data configuration example of a paper feeding parametertable 151 held in the memory 15 of the image forming apparatus 10. Inthe paper feeding parameter table 151, the paper type information, paperfeeding parameters, the number of fed paper sheets, and the number ofjams are stored in association.

In the “paper type information” field, the type, size, and grammage ofpaper sheets are stored as paper type information on paper sheets forwhich paper feeding parameters have been adjusted.

In the “paper feeding parameter” field, an air volume (side air) of theside fan 32 and an air volume (separating air) of the leading end fan 31are stored as adjusted paper feeding parameters.

In the “number of fed paper sheets” field, the number of paper sheetstargeted for feeding (paper sheets specified by the paper typeinformation) having been fed using the adjusted paper feeding parameters(the number of fed paper sheets) is stored.

In the “number of jams” field, the number of jams occurred in paperfeeding through use of the adjusted paper feeding parameters is stored.

The communicator 16 transmits/receives data to/from an external devicesuch as the management device 50 connected to the communication networkN.

The image reader 17 optically scans an original conveyed from an autodocument feeder (ADF) onto a contact glass or an original mounted on thecontact glass, causes an image of reflected light of illuminationscanning light from a light source to the original to be formed on alight receiving surface of a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor, readsthe image of the original, subjects the read image to A/D conversion,and outputs obtained image data to the controller 11.

The timer 18 has a real time clock (RTC), and times the current timewith this real time clock for output to the controller 11.

The controller 11 is capable of switching between paper feedingparameters in the paper feeder 30, and controls each component of thepaper feeding device 20 on the basis of set paper feeding parameters.The paper feeding parameters are parameters related to paper feeding,and include at least one of the air volume of the fans used for sendingair (the leading end fan 31 and the side fan 32), the air volume of thefan used for attraction (the attracting fan 33), the driving time of thefan(s) used for sending air or attraction (the leading end fan 31 andthe side fan 32 or the attracting fan 33), and the timing of controllingthe fan(s) used for sending air or attraction (the leading end fan 31and the side fan 32 or the attracting fan 33).

The controller 11 adjusts the paper feeding parameters in the paperfeeder 30.

For example, the controller 11 adjusts the paper feeding parameters inthe paper feeder 30 on the basis of a user's operation on the operationinterface 13.

Alternatively, the controller 11 automatically adjusts the paper feedingparameters in the paper feeder 30. The controller 11 functions as apaper sheet distance measurer that measures the paper sheet distancebetween the uppermost paper sheet attracted by the paper sheet attractor43 and a paper sheet subsequent to the uppermost paper sheet.Specifically, the controller 11 measures the paper sheet distancebetween the uppermost paper sheet and the subsequent paper sheet from animage captured by the camera 37.

The controller 11 measures the paper sheet distance from the imagecaptured by the camera 37 while changing the air volume of the fanincluded in the paper feeder 30, and adjusts the paper feedingparameters so as to obtain such an air volume that the subsequent papersheet is not fed in a manner overlapped by the uppermost paper sheet.

FIG. 5 shows a state when a paper feeding operation in the paper feeder30 corresponding to paper sheets targeted for feeding is started. Whenpaper feeding is started, an uppermost paper sheet P1 is floated andattracted to the lower surface of the conveyor belt 42 by the papersheet attractor 43. The paper sheet sensing sensor 36A senses that thepaper sheet P1 floated by air sent from the leading end fan 31 and theside fan 32 has been attracted to the lower part of the conveyor belt42. On that occasion, the controller 11 measures a paper sheet distanceD1 between the uppermost paper sheet P1 and a subsequent paper sheet P2from an image captured by the camera 37. The controller 11 measures thepaper sheet distance D1 while changing the air volume every several tensof sheets to calculate a relation of the paper sheet distance D1 to airvolume. Here, although a case of changing the air volume of the side fan32 as the air volume is described as an example, the air volumes of theleading end fan 31 and the attracting fan 33 may be changed.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relation of the paper sheet distance D1 toair volume.

The controller 11 calculates the range of air volumes sufficient tofloat the uppermost paper sheet P1 up to the conveyor belt 42 andenabling the uppermost paper sheet P1 to be conveyed without theuppermost paper sheet P1 and the subsequent paper sheet P2 overlappingeach other. In addition, when determining the air volume, the controller11 sets an air volume at which the number of jams with respect to thenumber of fed paper sheets is relatively small (as compared withpreceding and subsequent air volumes). The controller 11 sets an airvolume that satisfies the above conditions as an optimum value.

Note that jams addressed here are directed to only jams occurred withinthe paper feeding device 20.

The controller 11 transmits the paper type information obtained by thepaper type information sensing sensor 35, the adjusted paper feedingparameters, and a conveyance result of feeding paper sheets targeted forfeeding using the paper feeding parameters to the management device 50via the communicator 16.

The conveyance result includes the number of paper sheets targeted forfeeding having been fed using the adjusted paper feeding parameters andinformation concerning jams occurred in paper feeding through use of thepaper feeding parameters. The information concerning jams at leastincludes the number of times that jams have occurred (the number ofjams).

When terminating the job, the controller 11 transmits the number ofpaper sheets targeted for feeding having been fed using the adjustedpaper feeding parameters and the number of jams occurred in paperfeeding through use of the paper feeding parameters to the managementdevice 50 as a conveyance result.

The controller 11 detects a paper sheet setting error for the paper feedtray 40 or an adjustment error for a side guide that adjusts the lengthof the paper feed tray 40 in the paper sheet width direction.

In a case where a paper sheet setting error or a side guide adjustmenterror has been detected, the controller 11 issues a warning.Specifically, the controller 11 causes the display 14 to display amessage indicating that a paper sheet setting error or a side guideadjustment error has been detected.

FIG. 7 shows a functional configuration of the management device 50. Themanagement device 50 is configured to include a controller 51, a memory52, a communicator 53, and the like, and the respective components areconnected with buses. The management device 50 collects and accumulatespaper feeding parameters in a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10(the paper feeding devices 20), and provides paper feeding parametersfor each of the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices20).

The controller 51 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, andexerts centralized control over processing operations of the respectivecomponents of the management device 50. The CPU reads out variousprocessing programs held in the ROM for expansion to the RAM, andexecutes various types of processing in accordance with the expandedprograms.

The memory 52 is implemented by a memory device such as a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory or a hard disk, and holds data concerning varioustypes of processing, and the like.

FIG. 8 shows a data configuration example of an adjustment resultmanagement table 521 held in the memory 52 of the management device 50.The paper type information, paper feeding parameters, and jam ratio arestored in association with each other in the adjustment resultmanagement table 521.

In the “paper type information” field, the type, size, and grammage ofpaper sheets are stored as the paper type information obtained from theimage forming apparatus 10.

In the “paper feeding parameters” field, the air volume (side air) ofthe side fan 32 and the air volume (separating air) of the leading endfan 31 are stored as the paper feeding parameters obtained from theimage forming apparatus 10.

In the “jam ratio” field, the jam ratio [%] when feeding paper sheetsspecified by the paper type information using the paper feedingparameters is stored.

The communicator 53 transmits/receives data to/from an external devicesuch as the image forming apparatus 10 connected to the communicationnetwork N.

The controller 51 causes the memory 52 to hold an adjustment result inwhich the paper type information, paper feeding parameters, andconveyance result transmitted from each of the plurality of imageforming apparatuses 10 are associated with each other. Specifically, thecontroller 51 updates the adjustment result management table 521including a correspondence relation between the paper type information,paper feeding parameters, and conveyance result.

The controller 51 calculates the jam ratio from the number of papersheets transmitted from each of the plurality of image formingapparatuses 10 and the number of jams. The jam ratio is calculated from(the number of jams occurred in paper feeding through use of the paperfeeding parameters/the number of sheets having been fed using the paperfeeding parameters)×100[%].

The controller 51 causes the memory 52 to hold the calculated jam ratioas a conveyance result in association with the paper type informationand the paper feeding parameters transmitted together with the number ofpaper sheets and the number of jams.

The controller 51 compares the calculated jam ratio and a jam ratio ofpaper feeding parameters corresponding to the paper type information onpaper sheets targeted for processing, originally stored in theadjustment result management table 521, and in a case where thecalculated jam ratio is lower, replaces the paper feeding parameters inthe adjustment result management table 521 with the paper feedingparameters received from the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically,the controller 51 associates and stores the paper type information onpaper sheets targeted for processing, the newly obtained paper feedingparameters, and the jam ratio calculated for the paper feedingparameters in the adjustment result management table 521. In thismanner, paper feeding parameters that achieve the lowest jam ratio areaccumulated for respective pieces of paper type information in theadjustment result management table 521.

The controller 51 refers to adjustment results held in the memory 52 toset, for the image forming apparatus 10 targeted for processing amongthe plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, paper feeding parameterscorresponding to the paper type information obtained by the paper typeinformation sensing sensor 35 of the image forming apparatus 10 targetedfor processing on the basis of the conveyance result corresponding tothe paper feeding parameters.

The controller 51 sets paper feeding parameters that achieve the lowestjam ratio among paper feeding parameters corresponding to the paper typeinformation obtained by the paper type information sensing sensor 35 ofthe image forming apparatus 10 targeted for processing.

An operation in the paper feeding parameter management system 100 willbe described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing executed in the image forming apparatus 10. This processingis achieved by software processing through cooperation of the CPU of thecontroller 11 and a program held in the ROM.

First, the controller 11 determines whether there is a paper sheetsetting error or a side guide adjustment error (step S1).

Specifically, the controller 11 refers to the paper sheet settinginformation held in the memory 15 to read out the paper type informationon paper sheets associated with the paper feed tray 40 designated on theoperation interface 13 (or via the communicator 16). In addition, thecontroller 11 obtains the paper type information on paper sheetsactually placed on the designated paper feed tray 40 from the paper typeinformation sensing sensor 35 corresponding to the designated paper feedtray 40. The controller 11 compares the paper type information read outfrom the memory 15 and the paper type information obtained from thepaper type information sensing sensor 35, and determines whether theyagree. The controller 11 determines that there is a paper sheet settingerror in a case where they do not agree, and determines that paper sheetsetting is correct (there is no paper sheet setting error) in a casewhere they agree.

In addition, the controller 11 obtains the position of the side guidedetected by the side guide position sensing sensor 38 corresponding tothe paper feed tray 40 designated on the operation interface 13 (or viathe communicator 16), and determines whether it is located within areference range with respect to the size of paper sheets targeted forfeeding. Falling within the reference range represents a state in whichthe width of the side guide in the paper sheet width direction fallswithin a predetermined range (for example, the paper sheet size+0.1 to0.2 mm, or the like) with respect to the paper sheet size. Thecontroller 11 determines that there is a side guide adjustment error ina case where the position of the side guide is not located within thereference range, and determines that the side guide is correctlyadjusted (there is no side guide adjustment error) in a case where theposition of the side guide is located within the reference range.

Note that, in a case of detecting the paper sheet size with a sensor(such as an encoder) and making an adjustment to automatically move theposition of the side guide so as to ensure a width larger than thedetected width by about 0.1 to 0.2 mm when loading paper sheets on thepaper feed tray 40, it is not necessary to make a determination about aside guide adjustment error.

In step S1, in a case where there is a paper sheet setting error or aside guide adjustment error (YES in step S1), the controller 11 warns auser (step S2), and returns the process to step S1. Specifically, forthe detected paper sheet setting error or side guide adjustment error,the controller 11 causes the display 14 to display a message indicatingthat the error has been detected.

In step S1, in a case where there is no paper sheet setting error norside guide adjustment error (NO in step S1), the controller 11 obtainsthe paper type information on paper sheets targeted for feeding sensedby the paper type information sensing sensor 35 (step S3).

Next, the controller 11 transmits the paper type information obtained instep S3 to the management device 50 via the communicator 16 (step S4),and requests paper feeding parameters corresponding to the paper typeinformation from the management device 50 (step S5).

Next, the controller 11 determines whether the paper feeding parametershave been obtained from the management device 50 via the communicator 16in response to the request for the paper feeding parameters from themanagement device 50 (step S6).

In a case where the paper feeding parameters have been obtained from themanagement device 50 (YES in step S6), the controller 11 sets the paperfeeding parameters obtained from the management device 50.

Then, the controller 11 causes paper feeding from the paper feeder 30 ofthe paper feeding device 20 to be started using the set paper feedingparameters (step S7). Along with paper feeding, the controller 11controls the image forming unit 12 to form an image on paper sheetshaving been fed.

Next, the controller 11 carries out an adjustment of the paper feedingparameters (step S8). For example, the controller 11 adjusts the airvolume of the leading end fan 31, the air volume of the side fan 32, theair volume of the attracting fan 33, the driving time of each of thefans 31 to 33, the timing of controlling each of the fans 31 to 33, andthe like. Specifically, the controller 11 measures the paper sheetdistance from an image captured by the camera 37 while changing the airvolume of the side fan 32, and adjusts the paper feeding parameters soas to obtain such an air volume that a paper sheet subsequent to theuppermost paper sheet is not fed in a manner overlapped by the uppermostpaper sheet. In addition, the controller 11 determines an occurrence ofa jam from the sensing result from the paper sheet sensing sensor 36,and calculates the range of air volumes with which the number of jamswith respect to the number of fed paper sheets becomes relatively small.The controller 11 settles an air volume with which the number of jamswith respect to the number of fed paper sheets becomes relatively smallwith multiple feeding being avoided as an optimum value.

In addition, set values may be changed for various paper feedingparameters that a user has adjusted via the operation interface 13.

The controller 11 registers the adjusted paper feeding parameters in thepaper feeding parameter table 151 of the memory 15 in association withthe paper type information.

The controller 11 counts the number of fed paper sheets by means of afed paper sheet number counter while executing a job, and causes thememory 15 to hold the occurrence of a jam determined from the sensingresult from the paper sheet sensing sensor 36.

Next, the controller 11 determines whether the job has been finished(step S9). In a case where the job has not been finished (NO in stepS9), the process is returned to step S9.

In step S9, in a case where the job has been finished (YES in step S9),the controller 11 stores the number of fed paper sheets and the numberof jams during the job in the paper feeding parameter table 151 of thememory 15 in association with the paper type information and the paperfeeding parameters registered previously.

Next, the controller 11 transmits the adjusted paper feeding parametersand conveyance result (the number of fed paper sheets and the number ofjams) to the management device 50 via the communicator 16 (step S10).Including the paper type information transmitted in step S4, the papertype information, paper feeding parameters, and conveyance result aretransmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the management device50.

In step S6, in a case where the paper feeding parameters are notobtained from the management device 50 (NO in step S6), or after stepS10, the paper feeding parameter adjustment processing is finished.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing paper feeding parameter managementprocessing executed in the management device 50. This processing isachieved by software processing through cooperation of the CPU of thecontroller 51 and a program held in the ROM.

First, the controller 51 obtains paper type information from any of theimage forming apparatuses 10 via the communicator 53 (step S11), anddetermines whether there is a request for the paper feeding parametersmade by the image forming apparatus 10 (step S12).

In a case where there is a request for the paper feeding parameters madeby the image forming apparatus 10 (YES in step S12), the controller 51refers to the adjustment result management table 521 held in the memory52 to determine whether there is data relevant to the paper typeinformation obtained from the image forming apparatus 10 (step S13).

In a case where there is relevant data (YES in step S13), the controller51 obtains paper feeding parameters corresponding to the paper typeinformation obtained from the image forming apparatus 10, from theadjustment result management table 521, and transmits the paper feedingparameters to the image forming apparatus 10 having made the request viathe communicator 53 (step S14). Since paper feeding parameters thatachieve the lowest jam ratio are stored in the adjustment resultmanagement table 521 as paper feeding parameters corresponding to thesame paper type information, the paper feeding parameters provided forthe image forming apparatus 10 from the management device 50 are optimumvalues.

In step S13, in a case where there is no relevant data (NO in step S13),the controller 51 transmits recommended values (default values) of paperfeeding parameters corresponding to the paper type information obtainedfrom the image forming apparatus 10, to the image forming apparatus 10having made the request via the communicator 53 (step S15). Therecommended values of the paper feeding parameters corresponding to eachpiece of paper type information are values settled by a developer, andare held in the memory 15 in advance.

After step S14 or step S15, the controller 51 determines whether theadjusted paper feeding parameters and conveyance result have beenobtained from the image forming apparatus 10 via the communicator 53(step S16).

In a case where the adjusted paper feeding parameters and conveyanceresult have been obtained from the image forming apparatus 10 (YES instep S16), the controller 51 determines whether the number of fed papersheets included in the conveyance result is more than or equal to areference number of sheets defined in advance (for example, 1000 sheets,3000 sheets, or the like) (step S17). The reason why the number of fedpaper sheets is compared here with the reference number of sheets isbecause only a result of feeding a certain degree of number of sheets issuitable for determining the quality of the conveyance result.

In a case where the number of fed paper sheets is more than or equal tothe reference number of sheets (YES in step S17), the controller 51calculates the jam ratio from the number of fed paper sheets and thenumber of jams included in the conveyance result (step S18).

Next, the controller 51 determines whether the calculated jam ratio islower than a jam ratio corresponding to original paper feedingparameters stored in the adjustment result management table 521 (stepS19).

In a case where the calculated jam ratio is lower than the jam ratiocorresponding to the original paper feeding parameters (YES in stepS19), the controller 51 associates the paper type information obtainedin step S11, the paper feeding parameters obtained in step S16, and thejam ratio calculated in step S18 to update the adjustment result (stepS20). Specifically, the controller 51 associates and registers the papertype information, paper feeding parameters, and jam ratio in theadjustment result management table 521 of the memory 52 to replace dataconcerning the original paper feeding parameters.

For example, in a case where the number of fed paper sheets included inthe conveyance result that the management device 50 has received fromthe image forming apparatus 10 (the paper feeding device 20) in themarket is 3300 sheets and the number of jams is 2, the jam ratio is0.06%. In a case where the jam ratio for paper feeding parameters underthe same condition (paper type information) managed in the managementdevice 50 is 0.08%, the paper feeding parameters set this time achieve alower jam ratio. Thus, it is determined that the paper feedingparameters that achieve the jam ratio of 0.06% are optimum values, andthe paper feeding parameters are updated.

Note that, in a case where there is no relevant data in step S13 (NO instep S13), original paper feeding parameters to be compared in step S19do not exist, so that the process transitions to step S20 after stepS18.

In a case where there is no request for paper feeding parameters made bythe image forming apparatus 10 in step S12 (NO in step S12), in a casewhere the adjusted paper feeding parameters and conveyance result arenot obtained from the image forming apparatus 10 in step S16 (NO in stepS16), in a case where the number of fed paper sheets is less than thereference number of sheets in step S17 (NO in step S17), in a case wherethe calculated jam ratio is more than or equal to the value of the jamratio corresponding to the original paper feeding parameters in step S19(NO in step S19), or after step S20, the paper feeding parametermanagement processing is finished.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the managementdevice 50 associates and manages the paper type information, paperfeeding parameters, jam ratio (conveyance result) transmitted from theplurality of image forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices20), so that paper feeding parameters suitable for the paper typeinformation on paper sheets for use in each of the image formingapparatuses 10 can be set on the basis of the conveyance result.Therefore, defects in paper sheet conveyance in the image formingapparatus 10 (the paper feeding device 20) can be reduced.

In addition, since the management device 50 calculates the jam ratio onthe basis of the number of fed paper sheets and the number of jamsobtained from each of the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paperfeeding devices 20), and sets paper feeding parameters that achieve thelowest jam ratio in the image forming apparatus 10, jams at the time ofpaper feeding can be reduced in each of the image forming apparatuses10.

In addition, in each of the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paperfeeding devices 20), the paper feeding parameters can be automaticallyadjusted by measuring the paper sheet distance between the uppermostpaper sheet to be fed and a subsequent paper sheet while changing theair volume of the fan of the paper feeder 30.

In addition, since a warning is issued in a case where a paper sheetsetting error or a side guide adjustment error is detected in each ofthe image forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20), asituation where jams are likely to occur can be avoided.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention has beenapplied will be described.

Since a paper feeding parameter management system in the secondembodiment has a configuration similar to that of the paper feedingparameter management system 100 shown in the first embodiment, FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 and FIG. 7 are applied, and illustration and description of theconfiguration will be omitted. Hereinafter, components and processingcharacteristic of the second embodiment will be described.

In the second embodiment, when adjusting paper feeding parameters in theimage forming apparatus 10 (the paper feeding device 20), optimum valuesare calculated on the basis of an accompanied feeding extent.

Accompanied feeding refers to a phenomenon in which, when conveying theuppermost paper sheet of a stacked paper sheet bundle, a subsequentpaper sheet is conveyed in an accompanied manner. The accompaniedfeeding extent refers to a distance fed in an accompanied manner becauseof attraction and conveyance of a preceding paper sheet.

The controller 11 functions as an accompanied feeding extent measurerthat measures the accompanied feeding extent that, because of attractionand conveyance of a paper sheet preceding the uppermost paper sheet, theuppermost paper sheet attracted by the paper sheet attractor 43 isconveyed in a manner overlapped by the preceding paper sheet.Specifically, the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B senses paper sheetsconveyed by the conveyor belt 42 at a predetermined position (theposition of the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B) on a paper sheetconveyance path. On the basis of a paper feeding start time at whichconveyance by the conveyor belt 42 is started from a state in which apaper sheet is attracted by the paper sheet attractor 43 and a papersheet sensing time at which the paper sheet is sensed by the paper sheetsensing sensor 36B, the controller 11 calculates a conveyance durationfrom the paper feeding start time to the paper sheet sensing time, andcalculates the accompanied feeding extent from the conveyance duration.

Note that the controller 11 obtains the current time from the timer 18when paper sheet conveyance by the conveyor belt 42 is started after thepaper sheet is sensed by the paper sheet sensing sensor 36A, anddetermines the current time as the paper feeding start time.

In addition, when a paper sheet is conveyed by the conveyor belt 42 andthe paper sheet is sensed by the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B, thecontroller 11 obtains the current time from the timer 18, and determinesthe current time as the paper sheet sensing time.

The controller 11 measures the accompanied feeding extent while changingthe air volume of the fan included in the paper feeder 30, and adjuststhe paper feeding parameters such that the accompanied feeding extentbecomes less than or equal to a predetermined value.

FIG. 11 shows a state when the paper feeding operation in the paperfeeder 30 in a case where there is no accompanied feeding is started.The leading end position of a paper sheet P11 in a state where the papersheet P11 is attracted to the lower surface of the conveyor belt 42 bythe paper sheet attractor 43 and the conveyor belt 42 is not rotatingshall be denoted as a paper feeding start position X0. In addition, aconveyance duration that the leading end of the paper sheet P11 takes toreach the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B from the paper feeding startposition X0 shall be denoted as T0. The conveyance duration T0 in thestate where there is no accompanied feeding is held in the memory 15 inadvance.

Note that an arrow shown in FIG. 11 that connects the paper feedingstart position X0 and the position of the paper sheet sensing sensor 36Bis depicted to describe the conveyance duration T0 for which a papersheet is conveyed therebetween.

FIG. 12 shows a state when the paper feeding operation in the paperfeeder 30 in a case where accompanied feeding has occurred is started.When a paper sheet P12 is attracted to the lower surface of the conveyorbelt 42 by the paper sheet attractor 43, a paper feeding start positionX1 which is the leading end position of the paper sheet P12 isdownstream from X0 in the paper conveying direction. Thus, a conveyanceduration T1 that the paper sheet P12 takes to reach the paper sheetsensing sensor 36B from the paper feeding start position X1 is shorterthan T0. A difference ΔT between these conveyance durations T1 and T0 iscalculated.

ΔT=T0−T1

Note that an arrow that connects the paper feeding start position X1 andthe position of the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B and an arrow thatconnects the paper feeding start position X0 and the paper feeding startposition X1 shown in FIG. 12 are depicted to describe the conveyanceduration T1 and the difference ΔT, respectively.

Since the accompanied feeding extent is calculated from (ΔT×theconveying speed of the conveyor belt 42), the accompanied feeding extentof a paper sheet increases as ΔT increases. In FIG. 12, the accompaniedfeeding extent is the distance between the paper feeding start positionX1 and the paper feeding start position X0 in the case where there is noaccompanied feeding.

The controller 11 measures the accompanied feeding extent while changingthe air volume every several tens of sheets, and calculates the relationof the accompanied feeding extent to air volume. Although a case ofchanging the air volume of the side fan 32 as the air volume isdescribed here as an example, the air volumes of the leading end fan 31and the attracting fan 33 may be changed.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relation of the accompanied feeding extentto air volume.

The controller 11 calculates a range of air volumes with which theaccompanied feeding extent is small (less than or equal to apredetermined value). In addition, when determining the air volume, thecontroller 11 selects an air volume with which the number of jams withrespect to the number of fed paper sheets is relatively small (ascompared with preceding and subsequent air volumes). The controller 11sets an air volume that satisfies the above conditions as an optimumvalue.

Note that jams addressed here are only directed to jams occurred withinthe paper feeding device 20.

An operation in the paper feeding parameter management system of thesecond embodiment is similar to the paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing (see FIG. 9) executed in the image forming apparatus 10 andthe paper feeding parameter management processing (see FIG. 10) executedin the management device 50.

However, in step S8 of the paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing, the adjustment of the paper feeding parameters is based onthe accompanied feeding extent.

According to the second embodiment, paper feeding parameters suitablefor the paper type of paper sheets for use in each of the image formingapparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20) can be set on the basis ofthe conveyance result similarly to the first embodiment, and defects inpaper sheet conveyance in the image forming apparatus 10 (the paperfeeding device 20) can be reduced.

Specifically, since the management device 50 sets paper feedingparameters that achieve the lowest jam ratio for the image formingapparatuses 10, jams at the time of paper feeding can be reduced in eachof the image forming apparatuses 10.

In addition, in each of the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paperfeeding devices 20), the paper feeding parameters can be automaticallyadjusted by measuring the accompanied feeding extent of a paper sheet tobe fed while changing the air volume of the fan of the paper feeder 30.

Note that, although a case of calculating the accompanied feeding extentfrom the conveyance duration taken from the paper feeding start positionto the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B has been described in the secondembodiment, the accompanied feeding extent may be measured from an imageobtained by imaging a paper sheet with the camera.

As a first method through use of the camera, the accompanied feedingextent is measured directly by placing a mark in advance on the paperfeeding start position at the time when the accompanied feeding extentis 0, capturing an image with the camera such that the current paperfeeding start position and the mark are included in the image, anddetecting the current paper feeding start position and the mark fromwithin the captured image. The current paper feeding start position isobtained by sensing a paper sheet with the paper sheet sensing sensor36A and detecting the leading end position of the paper sheet from animage captured in a state where the conveyor belt 42 is not rotating.

As a second method through use of the camera, the accompanied feedingextent is calculated from the conveyance duration from the paper feedingstart time to the paper sheet sensing time similarly to the case ofusing the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B, by sensing that the leadingend of a paper sheet has reached a predetermined position from movingimage data obtained by capturing an image of the paper sheet being fedwith the camera.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention has been appliedwill be described.

Since a paper feeding parameter management system in the thirdembodiment has a configuration similar to that of the paper feedingparameter management system 100 shown in the first embodiment, FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 and FIG. 7 are applied, and illustration and description of theconfiguration will be omitted. Hereinafter, components and processingcharacteristic of the third embodiment will be described.

In the third embodiment, when adjusting paper feeding parameters in theimage forming apparatus 10 (the paper feeding device 20), optimum valuesare calculated on the basis of the paper sheet distance between theuppermost paper sheet to be fed and a subsequent paper sheet as well asan accompanied feeding extent resulting from suction and conveyance of apreceding paper sheet. That is, the method described in the firstembodiment and the method described in the second embodiment arecombined in the automatic adjustment of the paper feeding parameters.

In the image forming apparatus 10 (the paper feeding device 20), paperfeeding parameters which are currently optimum are obtained from themanagement device 50 before the start of paper feeding, and a paperfeeding operation is started. The controller 11 measures the paper sheetdistance between the uppermost paper sheet and the subsequent papersheet from an image captured by the camera 37, and measures theconveyance duration from the paper sheet feeding start time to the papersheet sensing time of the paper sheet sensing sensor 36B to calculatethe accompanied feeding extent from the conveyance duration. Thecontroller 11 measures the paper sheet distance and the accompaniedfeeding extent while changing the air volume every several tens ofsheets, and calculates the relation between the paper sheet distance andthe accompanied feeding extent. The methods of measuring the paper sheetdistance and the accompanied feeding extent are similar to those in thefirst embodiment and the second embodiment. Although the case ofchanging the air volume of the side fan 32 as the air volume isdescribed here as an example, the air volumes of the leading end fan 31and the attracting fan 33 may be changed.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a relation between the paper sheet distanceand accompanied feeding extent.

The controller 11 calculates a range of paper sheet distances at whichthe accompanied feeding extent becomes less than or equal to apredetermined value.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing a relation between the paper sheet distanceand air volume.

The controller 11 calculates a range of air volumes for the range ofpaper sheet distances at which the accompanied feeding extent becomesless than or equal to a predetermined value. On this occasion, if theair volume is extremely small, a paper sheet will not be floated up tothe conveyor belt 42, and conversely, if the air volume is extremelylarge, a plurality of paper sheets will be floated. Thus, anintermediate air volume is set as an optimum value.

An operation in the paper feeding parameter management system of thethird embodiment is similar to the paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing (see FIG. 9) executed in the image forming apparatus 10 andthe paper feeding parameter management processing (see FIG. 10) executedin the management device 50.

However, in step S8 of the paper feeding parameter adjustmentprocessing, the adjustment of the paper feeding parameters is based onthe paper sheet distance and the accompanied feeding extent.

According to the third embodiment, paper feeding parameters suitable forthe paper type of paper sheets for use in each of the image formingapparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20) can be set on the basis ofthe conveyance result, and defects in paper sheet conveyance in theimage forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20) can bereduced, similarly to the first embodiment.

Specifically, since the management device 50 sets paper feedingparameters that achieve the lowest jam ratio for the image formingapparatuses 10, jams at the time of paper feeding can be reduced in eachof the image forming apparatuses 10.

In addition, in each of the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paperfeeding devices 20), the paper feeding parameters can be automaticallyadjusted by measuring the paper sheet distance between the uppermostpaper sheet to be fed and a subsequent paper sheet as well as theaccompanied feeding extent of the paper sheet to be fed while changingthe air volume of the fan of the paper feeder 30.

Note that the description in each of the above embodiments is an exampleof the paper feeding parameter management system according to thepresent invention, and is not limited to this. Detailed configurationand detailed operation of each device constituting the system can alsobe modified as appropriate within the range not departing from thepurpose of the present invention.

For example, in the management device 50, data collected from the imageforming apparatuses 10 and data obtained therefrom (combinations ofpaper type information, paper feeding parameters, and conveyance result(jam ratio)) may be saved entirely instead of storing optimum valuesalone in the adjustment result management table 521, and when providingthe image forming apparatus 10 with paper feeding parameters, paperfeeding parameters that achieve the lowest jam ratio may be extractedfrom paper feeding parameters corresponding to the paper typeinformation.

In addition, in the management device 50, the number of fed paper sheetsand the number of jams may be stored in the adjustment result managementtable 521 in association with the paper type information and the paperfeeding parameters, in addition to or instead of the jam ratio.

In addition, in a case where there is a paper sheet setting error or aside guide adjustment error in steps S1 and S2 of the paper feedingparameter adjustment processing (see FIG. 9) executed by the imageforming apparatus 10, paper feeding shall not be started until the erroris resolved, but a jam occurred in a state where there is a paper sheetsetting error or a side guide adjustment error may be excluded from datawhen calculating the jam ratio.

In addition, although the case of measuring the paper sheet distancebetween the uppermost paper sheet and the subsequent paper sheet usingthe camera 37 (an image) has been described in the first embodiment andthe third embodiment, a sensor for measuring the paper sheet distancemay be used.

In addition, although the paper type information on paper sheetstargeted for feeding shall be obtained by the paper type informationsensing sensor 35 in each of the above embodiments, the controller 11 ofthe image forming apparatus 10 may obtain the paper type informationinput by a user via the operation interface 13.

In addition, although the image forming apparatus 10 shall be configuredto include the paper feeding device 20, and the controller 11 shall alsoserve as a controller that controls the paper feeding device 20 in eachof the above embodiments, the paper feeding device 20 may include acontroller different from the controller 11 and a communicator thatperforms data communication with the image forming apparatus 10 or themanagement device 50.

In addition, when the management device 50 collects the paper typeinformation, paper feeding parameters, and conveyance result from eachof the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20),disturbance information such as environmental information (temperature,humidity, and the like) may be obtained. In this case, the controller 51of the management device 50 can set, for the image forming apparatus 10targeted for processing, paper feeding parameters corresponding to thepaper type information and disturbance information obtained in the imageforming apparatus 10.

In addition, when the management device 50 collects the paper typeinformation, paper feeding parameters, and conveyance result from eachof the image forming apparatuses 10 (the paper feeding devices 20),model information on the image forming apparatus 10 or the paper feedingdevice 20 which is a source of transmission may be obtained. In thiscase, the controller 51 of the management device 50 can set, for theimage forming apparatus 10 targeted for processing, paper feedingparameters corresponding to the paper type information and modelinformation obtained in the image forming apparatus 10.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described andillustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposesof illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of thepresent invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-206215,filed on Nov. 1, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper feeding parameter management system,comprising: air paper feeding devices each of which includes an airpaper feeder that feeds a paper sheet by sending air to and attractingthe paper sheet, and switches paper feeding parameters in the air paperfeeder; and a management device connected to the air paper feedingdevices via a communication network, wherein each of the air paperfeeding devices includes: a paper type information obtainer that obtainspaper type information on paper sheets targeted for feeding, and a firsthardware processor that adjusts a paper feeding parameter in the airpaper feeder, and transmits the paper type information obtained by thepaper type information obtainer, the adjusted paper feeding parameter,and a conveyance result of feeding the paper sheets targeted for feedingusing the adjusted paper feeding parameter to the management device, andthe management device includes a second hardware processor that (i)causes a memory to hold an adjustment result in which the paper typeinformation, the paper feeding parameter, and the conveyance resulttransmitted from each of the air paper feeding devices are associated,and (ii) refers to the adjustment result held in the memory to set, foran air paper feeding device targeted for processing among the air paperfeeding devices, a paper feeding parameter corresponding to the papertype information obtained by the paper type information obtainer of theair paper feeding device targeted for processing on a basis of theconveyance result corresponding to the paper feeding parameter.
 2. Thepaper feeding parameter management system according to claim 1, whereinthe conveyance result includes a number of the paper sheets targeted forfeeding having been fed using the adjusted paper feeding parameter andinformation concerning a jam occurred in paper feeding through use ofthe paper feeding parameter.
 3. The paper feeding parameter managementsystem according to claim 1, wherein when terminating a job, the firsthardware processor transmits the number of the paper sheets targeted forfeeding having been fed using the adjusted paper feeding parameter and anumber of jams occurred in paper feeding through use of the paperfeeding parameter to the management device as the conveyance result, andthe second hardware processor calculates a jam ratio from the number ofpaper sheets and the number of jams having been transmitted, causes thememory to hold the calculated jam ratio as the conveyance result inassociation with the paper type information and the paper feedingparameter transmitted together with the number of paper sheets and thenumber of jams, and sets a paper feeding parameter that achieves thelowest jam ratio among paper feeding parameters corresponding to thepaper type information obtained by the paper type information obtainerof the air paper feeding device targeted for processing.
 4. The paperfeeding parameter management system according to claim 1, wherein theair paper feeder includes: a paper sheet attractor that attracts anuppermost paper sheet floated by air sent to stacked paper sheets, and apaper sheet distance measurer that measures a paper sheet distancebetween the uppermost paper sheet attracted by the paper sheet attractorand a paper sheet subsequent to the uppermost paper sheet, and the firsthardware processor measures the paper sheet distance with the papersheet distance measurer while changing an air volume of a fan includedin the air paper feeder, and adjusts the paper feeding parameter so asto obtain an air volume that the subsequent paper sheet is not fed in amanner overlapped by the uppermost paper sheet.
 5. The paper feedingparameter management system according to claim 4, wherein the papersheet distance measurer measures the paper sheet distance from an imagecaptured with a camera.
 6. The paper feeding parameter management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the air paper feeder includes: a papersheet attractor that attracts an uppermost paper sheet floated by airsent to stacked paper sheets; a conveyor that conveys the paper sheetattracted by the paper sheet attractor; and an accompanied feedingextent measurer that measures an accompanied feeding extent that,because of attraction and conveyance of a paper sheet preceding theuppermost paper sheet, the uppermost paper sheet attracted by the papersheet attractor is conveyed in a manner overlapped by the precedingpaper sheet, and the first hardware processor measures the accompaniedfeeding extent with the accompanied feeding extent measurer whilechanging an air volume of a fan included in the air paper feeder, andadjusts the paper feeding parameter such that the accompanied feedingextent becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value.
 7. The paperfeeding parameter management system according to claim 6, wherein theair paper feeder includes a sensor that senses a paper sheet conveyed bythe conveyor at a predetermined position on a paper sheet conveyancepath, and the accompanied feeding extent measurer calculates, on a basisof a paper feeding start time at which conveyance of the paper sheet bythe conveyor is started from a state in which the paper sheet isattracted by the paper sheet attractor and a paper sheet sensing time atwhich the paper sheet is sensed by the sensor, a conveyance durationfrom the paper feeding start time to the paper sheet sensing time, andcalculates the accompanied feeding extent from the conveyance duration.8. The paper feeding parameter management system according to claim 1,wherein the first hardware processor detects a paper sheet setting errorfor a paper feed tray or an adjustment error for a side guide thatadjusts a length of the paper feed tray in a paper sheet widthdirection, and in a case where the paper sheet setting error or theadjustment error for the side guide is detected, issues a warning. 9.The paper feeding parameter management system according to claim 1,wherein the paper type information includes a surface property,grammage, stiffness, or a size of a paper sheet, and the paper typeinformation obtainer is a sensor that senses paper type information fromthe paper sheets targeted for feeding or a obtainer that obtains papertype information input by a user.
 10. The paper feeding parametermanagement system according to claim 1, wherein the paper feedingparameter includes at least one of an air volume of a fan used forsending air, an air volume of a fan used for attraction, a driving timeof the fan used for sending air or attraction, and a timing ofcontrolling the fan used for sending air or attraction.